Extensive research
I’ve come to the conclusion that Left 4 Dead 2 is my favourite multiplayer game of all time, so I thought I’d write in to shamelessly declare my love. Since it’s release in 2009, I’ve amassed over 700 hours on the game (PC version) and I’ve never really got bored of it, why? Versus mode.

Left 4 Dead 2 is great for it’s co-op campaign and it’s survival (wave/Horde) mode but they are just a teaser of the true genius tucked away in the game. Versus mode is where two teams take it in turns, as the humans and then the infected, in a 4 vs. 4 match across a campaign chapter. It’s the perfect mix of teamwork, knowledge, skill, and risk-taking.

I think there is something special about games that have years, rather than months, to grow and evolve. Versus matches have become breeding grounds for players to dream up and test out new strategies, some of which become the norm and get built upon so much that you begin to see a map in completely different light. I’d say I’m at the point where I can see so many little metagames taking place I’m not sure how much Valve actually planned or the community invented. Either way, for me every aspect of the game is perfect.Petch1984

Case closed
I’ve just completed Professor Layton Vs. Phoenix Wright, and wow, what a game. What a story. I was expecting to enjoy it, but I wasn’t expecting it to be on par with Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies, which is my high point of the series.

It was much more emotional than I was expecting – I’m not ashamed to say I even cried at one point (GC may well be able to guess at what point). And such an intricate plot, GC said in their review that you’d be able to see the ending coming but although certain guesses I made quite near the beginning ended up being correct I’ll be honest and say that I did not see the main plot twists coming at all.

My only disappointment is that it’s now all over (I felt the same way after finishing Dual Destinies). There’s still the extra content yet, at least.Makuta Teridax

GC: We don’t think it’s been confirmed that we’re getting the downloadable content, but hopefully we will as it sounds quite extensive.

Time intensive
I was wondering if you intended to do a review on The Elder Scrolls Online at all. I have seen a few things so far on the game but they are all really variable, I don’t think that there seems to be a trend in terms of loving, hating or indifference to it which is a bit confusing!

I did a ‘hands-on’ for you from about 14 or so hours play about my opinion and experiences on the beta. And I would like to know what GC or maybe another readers thoughts on the full game are. I appreciate how difficult it is to review a massively multiplayer online given the amount of time you really have to put in in order to get to the level cap and cover out the main story quest, and that is before dipping in to things like side quests and PvP battlegrounds.

I also noticed that you get a lot of scorn in the comments section if your opinion doesn’t match someone who hasn’t actually played the game!WAYNEOS
PS: Is there any news on what is happening in terms of release for PlanetSide 2 on PlayStation 4?

GC: You’ve hit the nail on the head really, we just don’t have the time to play through a 100+ hour MMO. We’ll maybe do something on it in the future, but we’d prefer to cover it via Reader’s Features – where people have really put the hours in. No news on PlanetSide 2 that we’re aware of, although there was a fake trailer on April Fool’s Day.

Wrong format
What a let down. I have to say reading your review for Deception IV really made my mouth water, what a unique concept for a game… but alas I own an Xbox 360. And I genuinely mean alas because damn it’s barren here at the moment, the wait for Titanfall has been ruined by the greedy ‘you must upgrade’ delays that have left a very bad taste.

But I do have a craving for that oddball Japanese trap ‘em-up, any chance it will go anywhere near the Xbox 360?mumpy pumpy (gamertag)

GC: We don’t think so, given how it’s a dead format in Japan. To be honest we’re probably lucky the game was released in Europe at all.

Skryim Trapmaster
Really enjoyed reading the review of Deception IV as I had a lot fun playing Trapt on the PlayStation 2. I loved its quirkiness and there was also some kudos attached to discovering such an entertainingly original game which had flown in under most gamers’ radar.

But whilst I felt it was wonderfully imaginative and amusingly inventive, in a sick way, the whole concept would have been better applied to a bigger, better game. I’m thinking of an Elder Scrolls type role-playing game with Trapmaster as a class.

The only downer for me is that Deception IV seems to be, like Trapt, a Sony exclusive. If it was available for the Xbox 360 I’d be all over it – as some people say.Malcolm Lawn

Prepared in advance
I have a suggestion if I may be so bold; when you’ve got an interview scheduled, is there any chance GC could give prior warning and be willing to accept some questions submitted by readers? I appreciate the Inbox has influenced your line of questioning in the past, often referring to the opinions of your readers, but I mean specific questions.

Sensible questions of course, nothing along the lines of: ‘Why are Five Star so f****** s***?’. Remember that? It may discourage the dynamic duo of Jenkins and Hargreaves from becoming side-tracked with their adulation for Batman: The Animated Series. He isn’t all that!Clark Kent

GC: We don’t always know we’re going to do an interview before we go to an event, and sometimes we have to keep the existence of one secret anyway. So we can’t really offer to be very comprehensive in our forewarnings. But as you’ve noticed we do take on board reader suggestions and if you have specific questions for particular games or developers do send them along anyway and we’ll note them down for future use.

The Patapon games also look great but I have not played any of those. I also enjoyed Exit but only its sequel is on PSN, which I have not played. If you enjoyed Fire Emblem it is probably worth looking at Disgaea 3 on the PS Vita too. (Or its unreleased, on Vita, sequel).PazJohnMitch

Horrible reward
RE: iLike Fat Ladys. I know what you mean regarding connecting TV shows or films with games. When I was getting through the Project Zero games on the PlayStation 2 I went through a phase of watching J-horror and South Korean horror movies. The games were so creepy and I challenged myself to keep playing to get through a certain amount on the nights I played and exorcise a certain number of aggressive spirits on that session, so then I could reward myself with a paranormal or supernatural film from our Asian friends.

This went on for a few years as I slowly journeyed through the three Project Zeros on the PlayStation 2, so I accumulated a fair few horrors like Ringu, The Eye, The Grudge series, Phone, Uzumaki, A Tale of Two Sisters, The Whispering Corridor series, One Missed Call, Dark Water, etc. So the games and films went hand-in-hand with oppressive scares but with the reward after a good gaming session of watching the above films usually with my late supper.

One benefit which came from this was the fact that I pretty much desensitised myself to all horror films and games, as when I finished the third Project Zero and saw my hard work satisfied as the trapped souls where set free, and the good feel ending gave a good farewell to the trilogy.

So yes, doing this I definitely seemed to have exorcised myself from any paranormal or supernatural fears from the various mediums of entertainment and left me with more great memories from my gaming life. I still watch the films now, maybe a venture back to those charnel buildings warrants a return or even better a new Project Zero game on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One – possibly an Inbox magic time is due.Alucard
Now playing: Borderlands 2

Inbox also-rans
I might be a bit on the thick side, but when wearing VR head wear can you see the controller? My coordination isn’t that great, and I’m always looking down at the controller or keyboard and mouse. So will this limit the genres available to VR gear?Allthumbs

GC: You can’t see anything but the screen, although we imagine it’d be fairly easy to add in a virtual controller.

Not sure if you’ve already seen this, but Atlus posted this link at the bottom of a marketing email. Two months after I get a PS Vita for Persona 4 Golden! Still a great game, though I don’t know if I could play through it again! Can you shed any light on it GC?ALX25 (PSN ID)

GC: It’s news to us, but it doesn’t seem to imply a new version – it sounds more like a straight port of the PlayStation 2 original. Or maybe something to do with PlayStation Now in America.

Dark Souls II tips: summon, summon, summon. No seriously, get yourself one of those deathbreakloosenosouls rings, they can be repaired and in the long run save you from loosing a lot of souls… I have four (rings not souls).big boy bent (gamertag)

As I am still revelling in the wonderful world of Spira, in Final Fantasy X HD remastered, I was wondering, how do developers remaster old games? Do they start from scratch? Or do they just add a bit of extra code here and there?Dark Anima X (gamertag/PSN ID/NN ID)

GC: Most of the time it’s just the graphics they’re changing, which is compartmentalised in such a way that it’s fairly easy to swap elements in and out. They never start from scratch but Final Fantasy X has clearly had more time and effort (and money) put into it than most.

This week’s Hot Topic
The subject for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader Cranston, who asks what you would like your favourite franchise to be like in the next gen.

With long-running series such as Assassin’s Creed and Batman: Arkham announcing their first next gen-only iterations we want to know what you hope to see from new entries in existing series. Obviously better graphics, but what specific new features and elements do you want from sequels appearing on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Wii U?

Are you exciting about those games that have already been announced and are things panning out the way you expected before the new consoles launched? How likely do you think it is that your ideal version of the game will turn out that way, and if it doesn’t do you think that will be because of technical limitations or marketing concerns?